It’s a long time since I’ve seen the Lake of Constance or the soul of Europe in such gorgeousness and was therefore absolutely enthusiastic about our recent visit to the quadrangle formed by Germany-Austria-Switzerland-Liechtenstein. By the way, this lake is the second largest drinking water reservoir north of the Alps and the whole region with its nature protection areas, vineyards, ciclysts/cycle ways and gentle tourism is exemplary!

We had our hotel in Meersburg and could really enjoy our stay in this medieaval small town with its angled, narrow streets and half timbered houses. The visit of the oldest still inhabited castle, in which the famous German poet and componist, Annette von Droste-Hülshoff had her rooms was, of course, a must. At that time the castle belonged the husband of Annette’s sister Jenny, the baron von Lassberg. The poet spent her best years here without her dominant mother. The museum about the Middle Ages with their amateur actors has really made us feel that period and I can recommend it with all my heart.

We have naturally also visited the neat „Fürstenhäusle“, which Annette bought together with 5000 vines in 1848 at an auction which made her very proud. It has been explained to us that she has, however, never lived there. The baroque garden house was originally built in the 16th century by Jacob Fugger and then passed on to the bishops, before it was taken away from them in the course of the secularisation.

As Annette has written „THE JEW’S BEECH“ in Meersburg I have again taken up this crime thriller full of red herrings and realized that it is in fact about a highly current issue.

Friedrich Mergel, the main character, loses his father, who once more had drunken too much, at the age of about nine. This turns the shy boy more and more into an outcast. Later he is adopted by his uncle Simon, his mother’s brother, because she is less and less capable of coping with her farming activities. Friedrich becomes more and more violent due to Simon but remains vulnerable inside and finishes on the wrong track. Appearance or the facade is important to him. He shows off with a pocket watch, which he has not yet paid. The Jew, Aaron, who has given the money to Friedrich reproaches this to Friedrich at a wedding reception humiliating him very much. The Jewish businessman Aaron is later found hanging on a Jew’s Beech and Friedrich escapes. The story of Friedrich Mergel shows the disintegrating society in which he lives and in where injustice is not punished!

Das Dorf und seine Werte! NACH ALTEM BRAUCH UND SITTE STEHT IN DES DORFES MITTE DER BAUM VON JUNG UND ALT ERSTELLT, DAMIT DAS DORF ZUSAMMENHÄLT! (According to old traditions there is a tree in the middle of the village, established by young and old, so that the village clings together.)

Friedrich’s uncle is in dishonest timber business involved and has therefore quite a lot of money and a illegitimate son full of fears with the name Johannes/John Niemand (nobody), who becomes Friedrich’s inseperable alter ego. The forest official who is hard on the criminals’ heels is killed and Friedrich is involved in the crime.

Friedrich and Johannes escape and Friedrich returns to B. only many – precisely 28) years later and finds his tragic end in the Jew’s Beech!

The region of Lake Constance was already famous in the Middle Ages for its wine-growing area. Even the „Traminer“ was known in that time.

The snow always melts first in spring. The vineyards are protected by the surrounding buildings. Due to the steepness of the slopes, up to 70% and the nearness of the lake, the vines take especially advantage of the reflective effect of the water surface of the lake. The depth of the soil is impressive, despite the extreme steepness so that the vines get enough water even when there is a drought.